Daejeon City to Raise 'Taxi Surcharge Rates' Starting on the 16th

Photo by Daejeon City Provided

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Daejeon City's taxi fares will see an increase in late-night surcharge rates and combined surcharge rates starting March 16. This adjustment comes two years and eight months after the previous change, which was implemented on July 1, 2023.

The city government plans to first adjust surcharge rates in the first half of the year, taking into account the challenging economic conditions faced by citizens and the burden of transportation costs. The decision on whether to raise the base fare will be made in the second half of the year, following a comprehensive review of price trends, economic conditions for ordinary citizens, and the operating environment of the taxi industry.

The late-night surcharge will continue to apply from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. as before. However, by subdividing the time slots, the surcharge rate for the peak demand period from midnight to 2 a.m. will be raised from the current 20% to 30%.

For the other periods, from 11 p.m. to midnight and from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., the surcharge will remain at 20%, unchanged from the current rate.

Additionally, the combined surcharge applied when traveling outside Daejeon City's business district (beyond city limits) during late-night hours (11 p.m. to 4 a.m.) will be raised from the current 40% to 50%. The out-of-district surcharge will remain at the current 30%.

In 2025, Daegu, Gwangju, and Ulsan each raised their taxi fares by 12.6%, 13.3%, and 7.5%, respectively. When comparing current fares based on Daejeon City's average travel distance (4.67 km), fares in Daegu, Gwangju, and Ulsan are 6.3%, 8.9%, and 2.5% higher, respectively, than those in Daejeon.

In the meantime, the taxi industry has continuously requested fare adjustments due to rises in consumer prices (4.5% compared to 2023), labor costs (4.3%), and fuel costs (8.7%). In response, the city, considering the transportation cost burden on citizens, has agreed with the taxi industry to implement a phased fare adjustment.

Nam Sideok, Director of Transportation for Daejeon City, stated, "Currently, Daejeon City's taxi fares are among the lowest compared to other metropolitan cities and special cities. We will proceed with fare adjustments in a careful and phased manner to minimize the burden on citizens, while also ensuring reasonable income improvement for the taxi industry and stable operation of taxi services."

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